Goats are among the world's most widely farmed animals, with welfare challenges spanning both intensive dairy production and extensive small-scale systems.
Goat welfare challenges span the spectrum from intensive dairy systems to smallholder extensive farming. Disbudding without pain relief — burning or chemically removing horn buds in young kids — is standard practice causing significant acute pain. The procedure is done without general anesthesia on millions of kids annually. Kid-dam separation in dairy systems causes intense, prolonged vocalization and behavioral distress in both mother and offspring. Intensive dairy goats face chronic lameness, mastitis, and metabolic disorders analogous to dairy cows. In extensive systems, parasite management failures lead to suffering and death from haemonchosis. Goats confined in barren environments show stereotypic behaviors and reduced welfare. Their intelligence and curiosity mean environmental enrichment is particularly important for psychological wellbeing.